1998 Ford RANGER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
415 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
100,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 109 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 71 of 415 complaints (17.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 49 | 11.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 21 | 5.1% |
| Steering behavior | 19 | 4.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 3.6% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 71 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 46 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 25 |
| Suspension | 20 |
| Interior Lighting | 19 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
Tires: 71; Tires:Tread/Belt: 46; Vehicle Speed Control: 25; Suspension: 20; Interior Lighting: 19; Unknown Or Other: 16; Air Bags:Frontal: 15; Structure:Body: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 18 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 29 |
| 150,000 and above | 26 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 29; 150,000 and above: 26
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (29). 306 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 160 |
| 2001 | 68 |
| 2002 | 34 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 13 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
2000: 160; 2001: 68; 2002: 34; 2003: 20; 2004: 17; 2005: 8; 2006: 8; 2007: 12; 2008: 9; 2009: 8; 2010: 4; 2011: 13; 2012: 8; 2013: 10; 2014: 6; 2015: 13; 2016: 3; 2017: 5; 2018: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2021: 2
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 49 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 19 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10022555 · 2003-06-06 (June 6, 2003)
BRAKE ROTORS ARE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022555 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026811 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKE THE LEVEL WILL GO DOWN . BUT THE BRAKE LEVEL WILL NOT COME UP AT ALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029279 · 2003-07-27 (July 27, 2003)
OUR 1998 FORD RANGER XLT WITH THE 4.0L V-6 AND THE 5-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING. ON OCCASION THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE WHEN BEING SHIFTED INTO PARK AND WOULD ON OCCASION ATTEMPT TO SURGE FORWARD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED WHILE IN DRIVE. THE PROBLEMS RECENTLY BECAME WORSE AFTER ONLY 44K MILES AND BEGAN TO IMPACT THE DRIVING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. THE SHIFTING OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE IN DRIVE WOULD SOMETIMES HESITATE AND HAD BECOME UNPREDICTABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A…
Owner-reported narrative. 44,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133597 · 2005-08-19 (August 19, 2005)
PURCHASED TRUCK USED IN MAY 1999 WITH 15,000 MILES ON IT. PROBLEM STARTED AFTER HAVING 25,000 ODOMETER MILES ON TRUCK. VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE UPON STOPPING OR SLOWING. HAD IDLE ADJUSTED NEXT SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (30K). AS OF THIS DATE, AUGUST 19, 2005, VEHICLE STILL ACCELERATES ON VERY RARE OCCASIONS. AFTER A FEW MONTHS FROM THE 45K MAINTENANCE CHECK THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED TO STALL AT RANDOM WHEN STOPPING OR SLOWING. AT REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECKS I WOULD TELL TECH ABOUT STALLING PROBLEMS. MOST OFTEN TECH COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM ON R…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048017 · 2003-11-14 (November 14, 2003)
VEHICLE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN THE STEERING COLUMN CAME APART. DRIVER THEN SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES UNTIL VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 185,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048017 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051805 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
THE DAY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, (1998 FORD RANGER) THE CONSUMER HAD TO GET THE RACK AND PINION STEERING CHANGED. (SEE ODI NUMBER 10052130 FOR CONSUMER COMPLAINT REGARDING 2002 FORD ESCAPE).*MR *CB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10177268 · 2006-12-28 (December 28, 2006)
HAZARD OF FIRE OR EXPLOSION FROM INFERIOR PARTS. HOSES AND PIPES FROM FILLER NECK TO GAS TANK ARE BEING REPLACED BY BENEFICIAL AUTOMOTIVE MAINTENANCE IN MOORE OKLAHOMA. TANK HAS TO BE FLUSHED AND FILTER REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO GAS FUMES AND LEAKING FUEL FROM THE DECOMPOSING FILLER NECK HOSES. I JUST HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE FOR THE SAME REASON ON MY '98 FORD E250. FORD DEALER PARTS SALESPERSON SAYS THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM(EVEN HE STATED HE ANTICIPATES THIS WITH HIS FORD TRUCK) AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN RE-ENGINEERED TO CORRECT THE RUBBER…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321950 · 2010-03-22 (March 22, 2010)
1998 FORD RANGER, DRIVE SHAFT BROKE ON VEHICLE. *BF AFTER THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE, IT WENT THROUGH THE GAS TANK CAN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-0294-89 UPDATED 05/03/10 *BF UPDATED 05/24/10 *BF THE REAR AXLE PINION FROZE, THE DRIVE SHAFT TWISTED AND BROKE IN TWO. UPDATED 05/28/10
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321950 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067128 · 2004-04-14 (April 14, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TURN SIGNAL PROBLEM. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED A PUFF OF SMOKE, AND A CRACKLING SOUND BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT MULTI-FUNCTION MODULE HAD AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195976 · 2007-07-10 (July 10, 2007)
PULLED MY 1998 FORD RANGER INTO A STORE PARKING LOT. I WAS GETTING READY TO PARK WHEN I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. STOPPED THE TRUCK. SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I POPPED THE HOOD AND SAW AN ELECTRICAL PLUG BURNING WITH FLAMES. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THE FLAMES OUT BEFORE MUCH ELSE WAS DAMAGED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG IS WHAT CAUGHT FIRE. IT ALSO DAMAGED MY RESERVOIR FOR THE BRAKE FLUID. THEY ARE REPLACING THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL PLUG. OF COURS…
Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195976 at NHTSA ↗